About 71% of New Mexican students qualify for free or reduced-price meals yet some of our children are still going hungry. The Healthy Universal School Meals Act introduced by Democratic Senators Michael Padilla and Leo Jaramillo would give all public and charter school students free access to breakfast and lunch regardless of family income. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is a supporter of this bill and made it one of her priorities in her State of the State address.
Read MoreLawmakers have advanced a substitute bill that would provide free breakfast and lunch to New Mexico school kids. Some legislators are skeptical about the price tag and whether the state can afford it in years to come. But supporters say this bill could keep thousands of kids from going hungry.
Read MoreNew Mexico students will no longer be singled out if they have debt in the school cafeteria. Our state became the first in the nation recently to outlaw what's known as "lunch shaming," which can include serving students a cold sandwich instead of a hot meal, requiring that they help clean up after the meal or stamping their arm with a message to parents that they owe money in the cafeteria.
Read More